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Northglenn Mayor resigns, blames 'toxic environment'

Council to consider options June 10

Mayor Carol Dodge at the opening of the new Northglenn Justice Center in 2018, which includes the police department and municipal court at 50 W. Community Center Drive.

Northglenn Mayor Carol Dodge stepped down from her position June 5, citing a “toxic council environment.”

Councilor Antonio Esquibel, the councilor from Ward 4, will step in as Mayor Pro Tem, but City Manager Heather Geyer said City Councilors are scheduled to discuss their next steps at their regular meeting Monday, June 10.

According to the city codes, councilors could replace Dodge permanently with one of their own, leaving a vacancy in that City Council seat. They could also schedule a special election — either for the mayor’s job or a vacant City Council seat — or wait until November’s regular City Council election.

“But the council is meeting with the City Attorney June 10 for advice on their next steps on filling the position,” Geyer said, “At this point, it’s only a discussion.”

Dodge notified Geyer in a letter at about 9:30 p.m. June 5 and the city sent out a notification to residents the following morning.

In her letter, Dodge said the decision to resign “..is one of the most difficult that I have ever made; I leave knowing I have lifelong friends in the community who will always support me and the work I’ve done.”

She said she would be available to complete unfinished business, but blamed the council’s mood for her decision.

“I am unable to work in the present toxic council environment and choose to be free of the constant negativity and stress,” she wrote.

Dodge was elected to the mayor’s job in November 2017, after eight years as a City Councilor representing Northglenn’s Ward 1. She also served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2013-17.

Dodge is the owner of Dodge Sign Company. She could not be reached for comment.

“We are disgusted by the behavior of the officers in Minnesota,” Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock told members of the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. “Those were bad cops, and if they work for any sheriff in this room they would have been fired just the same.”